Google Play briefly featured Threads, Meta’s challenger to Twitter

Alessandro Paluzzi, a developer who often examines app code to uncover unreleased options, tweeted this morning that Meta’s Twitter clone, Thread, was mistakenly launched on the Google Play retailer however is not obtainable.

Paluzzi shared screenshots showcasing the UI, together with the login display screen the place customers can sign up with their Instagram accounts, in addition to a display screen displaying a listing of their adopted accounts from the picture and video website, permitting them to decide on who to observe on Threads. View the screenshots on this gallery:

Threads bears a placing resemblance to Twitter, as seen from the screenshots. Posts within the app could have character counts and a paperclip icon for attaching numerous media. Customers can like, repost, reply to, and share posts, displayed with round consumer photographs. Instagram’s recognizable blue checkmarks are additionally current.

Since January, Meta has been creating Threads, code-named “Challenge 92.” The Verge gained perception into the app throughout an inside companywide assembly, the place Meta’s chief product officer Chris Cox launched Threads, highlighting the will for a well-managed platform from creators and public figures, as a substitute for Twitter.

This leak provoked a possible confrontation between Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Twitter CEO Elon Musk. After studying of Cox’s assertion, Musk provided to interact in a “cage match” if Zuckerberg agreed. Zuckerberg accepted, resulting in widespread hypothesis in regards to the probability of this occasion.

Though Meta has not introduced an official launch date for Threads, its look on the Google Play retailer suggests an imminent launch. We’ve reached out to Meta for remark.